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DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, who is dealing with a sprained left ankle, said he is "definitely" playing in Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.
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The Bulls have listed Rose as questionable for Tuesday, but he appears more confident. Asked Monday if he will play, Rose said: "More than likely, yeah. It's not broke so I'm definitely playing."
Rose underwent an MRI on Sunday, which showed a sprained left ankle. Rose didn't practice Monday, but coach Tom Thibodeau is optimistic Rose will play and said the swelling is down. He'll receive a pain-killing injection before Game 5.
"He's feeling a little better, just held him out [to] give him a little more rest," Thibodeau said. "He's doing a good job of getting his treatment. They've gotten the swelling down, so hopefully he'll be ready to go [Tuesday]."
Rose, who was limping noticeably walking around the Berto Center in flip-flops, said his ankle is improving.
"It's getting better every day," Rose said. "I'm getting treatment on it the last couple of days, coming in in the morning, coming in at night getting treatment, so hopefully it will be ready [Tuesday]."
Rose twisted the ankle during the first quarter of Game 4 on Saturday in Indianapolis. He left the court and returned in the second quarter, but he didn't seem as explosive.
Before leaving the game with 1:02 remaining in the first quarter, Rose had seven points. He finished with 15 and was just 1-for-9 from 3-point range. He was 3-for-16 from the field in the final three quarters as the Bulls lost 89-84. The Bulls lead the series 3-1.
Tim Legler covers the Celtics, the Lakers' defense of Chris Paul, the Hawks' late-game execution, Derrick Rose, Spurs-Grizzlies, Blazers-Mavericks and more.
More Podcasts »"I just took off wrong and my weight just pushed over my ankle and it ended up twisting," Rose said after the game Saturday.
After watching the tape of Game 4, Thibodeau said he wasn't sure if the ankle injury affected Rose.
"It's hard to tell with him," Thibodeau said Sunday. "He's so fast. The way he was attacking ... now he didn't finish as well as he normally does. And he didn't get to the line. I thought as a team, we settled for the 3 too much."
Bulls point guard C.J. Watson was confident Rose would be back.
"I think he's probably, pretty sure, 100 percent going to play," Watson said Sunday. "He's probably just a little sore. I'm sure he's going to play on Tuesday, though."
Nick Friedell covers the Bulls for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.
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